Fish in Chinese

The Chinese are known for being a sea-faring people, especially for those from the Eastern coastal areas and those living close to lakes. China's coastline covers approximately 9,000 miles. Bearing that in mind, you would not find it difficult to understand why seafood is a staple in China.

In this lesson, we’ll talk about various types of “鱼 yú”fish in Chinese. Some of these you might find on a plate garnished with lemon, and some you might see on a snorkeling trip or in a fish tank peeking out from behind some coral! Either way, this is important vocabulary to know while traveling.

Pronouncing fish in Chinese

Let's get started...

鱼

yú

Fish

青鱼

qīngyú

The black carp

海蜇

hǎizhé

Jellyfish (as a food or dish, not as the animal)

龙虾

lóngxiā

The lobster

螃蟹

pángxiè

The crab

牡蛎

mǔlì

The oyster

鱿鱼

yóuyú

The squid

鲨鱼

shāyú

The shark

海豚

hǎitún

The dolphin

鲸鱼

jīngyú

The whale

三文鱼

sānwényú

The salmon

鳟鱼

zūnyú

The trout

海马

hǎimǎ

The seahorse

梭鱼

suōyú

The barracuda

海虹

hǎihóng

The mussel

鲤鱼

lǐyú

The common carp

Tàibàngle! You now have a new set of words to add to your Chinese vocabulary list! Chinese food can contain many new and diverse flavors. If you see any of these fish on a Chinese menu, be brave and order something new. You won’t be disappointed!